Britain needs - and wants - a codified constitution

Democratic Audit has been monitoring the workings of the uncodified UK constitution, through teams of scholars, lawyers and other experts, since 1992. Marcel Berlins writes (Writ large, February 18) that the "hotchpotch" constitution "continues ... to serve the country well". This is not our conclusion after years of study. Certainly it serves the party politicians who hold office well, since they are in a position to exploit the uncertainty surrounding arrangements to their political, party and sometimes personal advantage. But what of the rest of the "country"? We have a virtually unchecked executive with flexible powers and consequently suffer from a succession of policy disasters (eg poll tax and Iraq). There are other ills, notably an unrepresentative electoral system, the impoverishment of local government and low-level corruption.

Do the public feel that not having a clearly defined and enforceable constitution serves them well? On the basis of opinion poll evidence, no. State of the Nation surveys conducted by ICM and Mori for the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust consistently show that around two-thirds of the population support the introduction of a codified constitution.Professor David Beetham, Professor Helen Margetts, Professor Trevor Smith, Professor Stuart Weirstuart Democratic Audit, University of Essex

I used to go along with Marcel Berlins' line on a written constitution, but the behaviour of the Thatcher and New Labour governments, in ignoring the conventions which used to exist, has convinced me otherwise. Popular feeling and the free will of parliamentarians are ignored (the poll tax, the Iraq war), manifesto promises are forgotten (the Dome, railway privatisation etc) and financial rules are overridden (Tory sleaze, the BAE/Saudi deal and the Derek Conway scandal), and governments of both parties have used party whips to drive a coach and horses through our unwritten rules. So often we find that remedies are not available until it is too late, and I have increasingly come to the conclusion that we have to bite the bullet of constitutional reform, and at least start the process of drafting a written constitution now.Michael EllmanLondon

Marcel Berlins echoes the sentiment that politics is prior to law. Not so. However, new constitutional arrangements should focus on the policy process. New building bricks are needed. We have seen some advances: specialist committees; a liaison committee; and MPs holding alternative debates outside the Commons. So, abolish the Lords and create a forum. Give control of it to the chairmen of the specialist committees. Make the forum open to individuals, groups, experts - perhaps bring back the central policy review staff. Result? Greater concentration on the detail of legislation. Would slow down government? Yes, please.Eric LiggettArkholme, Lancashire